Didem Kris: Berk and I worked together in several performances and theatre plays in Istanbul. Our shared passion for the theatre brought us to Vienna, as pursuing our creative journey in Turkey had become increasingly challenging due to political and economic circums- tances. We came here with the hope of establishing a collective dedicated to our way of theatre and perfor- mance-making. My connection with Defne reaches back to Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University where we took ballet classes together. After our paths crossed in Vienna, we thought it would be great to work together and support each other, given our shared roots as migrant artists. And, also, she is a great mover.

Berk Kristal: Didem and I worked together in Istanbul and later in Vienna on various projects with different ensembles; so we knew each other very well. After my residency application was approved by diverCITYLAB, we started developing the concept together and pre- sented the first draft as puppet cinema from Didem‘s idea in November 2022. At that point, we were already thinking about including a third artist to invigorate the flow of the research on the topic. This is where Defne came in, as we were aiming for different perspectives for devising on the subject, which brings me to your next question.

Berk Kristal: It was a simple, yet a very loaded topic which still keeps us engaged: a Microphone. It is both clear and very symbolic, as it makes the power relations extremely interesting to observe: Who hands whom the microphone, where & when, in which circum- stances, for how long? We usually start with an idea and then expand upon it, research and look for things that pique our curiosity, and we deem up to date.

Didem Kris: It all began when Berk introduced the idea of „zum Wort kommen“ and a microphone. Last November, for a try-out at diverCITYLAB studio at Creative Cluster, I proposed to Berk the idea of constructing a miniature living room as a central element of our stage design. It was our intention to search the space in between the living room where we hear the world and the stage where we hope to speak an alter- native to it. Finally, when Defne joined us, our first brainstorming session coincided with the Maraş earthquakes. It was during this period that we began to delve deeper into the notion of those instances where words fall short. I still find myself struggling to articulate my thoughts and emotions when the world around us seems so distorted.

Didem Kris: Before OUT LOUD, I wasn‘t very good at recalling my dreams. During rehearsals, I started keeping a logbook for myself as a morning routine. With each passing day, the details I noted from the night expanded. My dreams serve as moments when I engage in a silent dialogue with myself, articulating my fears, contradictions, anxieties, desires, and hopes, as well—topics that often go unspoken within the hustle of everyday life.

Berk Kristal: We all dream, yet we tend to perceive them as unreal or impossible and draw a clear distinction between them and the „real life“ after getting up from the bed and start acting as adults. Sometimes I feel like we don‘t actually give our best -including myself- to make them real or possible, not only for ourselves but for others as well. Maybe if we look around more carefully, we encounter a better dream than ours to embrace and even to try to make possible. That needs some talking, OUT LOUD.